2 Peter 1:1-2
Introduction

Peter begins both his letters by stating his credentials as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Pastor Dave previewed Peter’s second letter for us, saying that Peter uses his apostolic authority to identify and combat false teaching. Some teachers inside the early church opposed the true gospel, especially the promise of Christ’s second coming. For example, since Jesus had not yet returned as he supposedly promised, they said, he will never return. The gospel message needs to be updated to reflect new information, they said. “Does that sound familiar?” Dave asked, quoting this verse from Ecclesiastes: There is nothing new under the sun. In our modern age with TV, radio, and the internet, we are even more vulnerable to false teaching than the original recipients of Peter’s letter. Ask the Lord to equip all of us to recognize and reject false teaching in our day.

A thread running through several of Dave’s sermons in recent months has been the place the Bible holds in our lives. Before the Lord, ask: Do I think I’m too busy to read and ponder the Bible? Does my Bible ride around in my car’s back seat all week? Is lip service about the Bible’s importance part of the smiling, “everything’s great” Christian mask I wear on Sundays? I could ace a Bible quiz, but is what I know from the Bible evident in my life? Do I find myself sitting in judgment of the Bible when I read it, deciding for myself which parts are true and which are not? Lord, impress upon us the eternal value of Your written word. Help us open our Bibles with awe and wonder, realizing that these are Your very words to us. Strengthen us to accept, obey, and stand on what You, the God of truth, say in the Bible.

It is comforting, in an odd way, to realize that the early days of the church were not a Golden Age. The Church today is a mess in many ways, but so it has been over the ages, from the earliest times. Praise God that He is sovereign over the Church and that He accomplishes His purposes, even through imperfect people and messed-up organizations.

Calvary Family

Calvary’s Fostering Hope ministry is holding a used goods drive on Saturday, 10 to noon, to benefit the OC Foster Care Auxiliary. The donated items will stock the Auxiliary’s thrift shop, its main source of income. It is a good reminder to pray for the work of the Auxiliary as they provide practical help and support for foster children and the families who care for them.

Lift up our next baptism service, scheduled for May 15. We may have brand new believers among us who have not been baptized yet. We may also have people who have believed in Jesus for a long time but who have not taken the step of public profession and baptism. Pray that the Lord will nudge the individuals He is calling to be baptized to attend the preparation class this Sunday afternoon, May 1.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert